The Washington critic., 1887-11-08
WASHINGTON, NOV. 8, 1887.
THE INAUGURAL CENTENNIAL.

LOOKING down upon thls Dusy sconc Is inc
colossal statao of Washington, which seems
instinct with life II stands upon the very
stone on which the old hero stood at his first
Inauguration, as is evident from the inscrlp.
tion, which says: "S'andlng upon this stone
Washington took the oath rs first President
oi the United States" while reading this
could not but be surprised at It's lack of both
elegance and accuracy, Washington did not
take tho oath "as the frs prcsi' lent" He
had nothing to do with the Presidential list
Would II not be more correct TO say: stand.
ing on this stone Washington, the first presi.
dent OF the United States took the oath OF
offceY What shame It is that the building
in which this solemn and sublime ceremony
took place was not preserved cd Federal
Hall, indeed, would TO day be beyond all value
as feature OF national Interest
With the ruthless progress of i'm
provement In TINT busiest thoroughfare
of the world. the old landmarks of
which the correspondent speaks have
disappeared. The stone is there upon
which Washington stood, but 1t is GOV
cred with a statue, The building that
should have been saved is gone beyond
recall.
There Is nothing Ia the surroundings
no vestige of the memorable past-to
reawaken the patriotic associations that
should naturally llnger here; yctit is
proposed TO celebrate in that immediate
vicinity the event which hallows In the
memory Of every American the silent
block upon which the colossal statue
Of the first President is reared. 1t is
only to be regretted that so little is left
to remind us of that great occasion.
The proposition, however, is one to
be universally approved. 1t Is numer-
ously indorsed by leading citizens of
New York and In all probability will
be successfully carried out. II con-
flicts In no wise with the grand Inter
national Centennial that is to be held
In Washington the same year.
The one Is purely local affair having
relation to q single incident In the open
ing year Of the new dispensation. The
other is intended to commemorate the
birth of Republican Institutions in
America-,he practical beginning of
government by the people under con-
stitutional forms-the dawn Of the
most illustrious period in human his.
tory, in the noon of which so many
Republics, patterned from our own, are
now hopefully making for the higher
planes Of political enlightenment and
civilization.
The Centennial of the Constitution ia,
OF course, to be held n. the National
Capital. There would be singular
appropriateness in holding 1t at any
other place than the seat of the Ma.
iional Government. 10 the presence OF
Congress, under the shadow of the
Capitol, near the residence of the
President and the Executive Depart.
ments.
But the celebration at New York
might very properly form part of the
International festivities, and the assem-
bled thousands at Washington would
take pride and pleasure in uniting will
the citizens Of the metropolis to add
eclat to the ceremonies of the Inaugu
raj Centennial.
There Is no reason for any antagon
isms or jealousies or embarrassment
between the promoters of the one ant
the managers of the other. New York
through her delegation In Congress
and the co. operation of her inauentia
citizens, can do much to further tn,
success Of the Governments under
taking at Washington, and the NOR,
splendid the demonstration here 81
much the greater luster will 1t add t,
the contemplated observances in New
York.
The property. owners of Chicago ap
pear to be greatly intlmidated by tn
approaching execution of the Anarch
lists and keep themselves busy signinl
petitions for their Communication. Thi
raises serious question. Should tn
Government be scared out Of plail
duty-the enforcement OF the law
Considerations of mercy may well b
subordinated to this greater and NOR
important consideration II things hav
come TO such pass that criminals can
not bel punished for their crimes througl
fear that other criminals will rise t
avenge their deaths, then may one O
the proudest Of our instltutions-,ha
which we have always boasted of as
safeguard to life and properly-be pre-
nounced an ignominious failure. Doe
the Government still live, or Is It tel
rorized by the wild and incendiar
threats of few foreign desperadot
and adventures Ii is time TO dete
mine the issue, and no better oppo
tunily for Its determination was ey
presented than now rests in the haut
of Governor oglesby.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS has written
letter 10 the Forestry Congress, in Sc
sion at Huntsville, Ala, which
characterized by great good sense ar
indicative Of warm, practical interc
In the future of the country. 1t h
special reference TO the importance
checking the tremendous waste of tic
ber which has been going on so mar
years, and Of making provision for r
creating our devastated forests. Tn
Is an encouraging symptom. 1t shoV
that Mr.. Davis is not unmindful Of Il
future of his country, but takes liyir
Interest in public affairs. Long ms
he live with his keenly observant vlsIc
fixed upon the front, Let the dead pa
bury its dead.
THERE will be distinguished gat